Dogs, cats, birds, fish, hamsters and hundreds of elementary school children flooded Good Shepherd School in Santa Cruz on Friday to participate in the Feast of St. Francis blessing of the animals. Photos by Kevin Johnson -- Santa Cruz Sentinel

Pete Curkendall, a key part of Penn State’s 1986 national championship team, followed his wife’s dream of adopting children with severe special needs. The Curkendalls now have six children. Four are adopted, five have special needs.